Manipur Baptist bodies launch peace mission amid Kuki-Naga hostage crisis

Guwahati: Leaders of Manipur’s four Baptist church apex bodies have launched a peace mission to defuse tension between the Kuki and Naga communities, which escalated after three members of the Thadou Baptist Association India (TBAI) were killed in an ambush in Kangpokpi district on May 13.

The church leaders appealed to the United Naga Council (UNC) and Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages still held by armed groups from either side, saying humanitarian concerns must take precedence.

More than 38 people were abducted and held hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts on May 13, hours after the ambush. Twenty-eight have been released, mostly women and children, while at least six Nagas and 14 Kukis are still claimed to be in captivity and remain untraced.

Manipur CM Y Khemchand Singh, after meeting a delegation of Liangmai Naga groups seeking the rescue of six abducted Naga men, said the state govt is making efforts to subdue the tense situation arising from abductions in the hill districts.

The peace mission includes members of the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC), the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI), the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF) and the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). The delegation met the chief minister on Monday before beginning the outreach.

The mission has been split into two teams. On Tuesday, one team travelled to Kangpokpi district to hold talks with Kuki church leaders and meet the families of the three deceased church leaders. The other visited Senapati district to engage Naga church leaders and civil society organisations on the hostage crisis.

The chief minister’s office said on X that the church leaders volunteered to broker peace and that the chief minister welcomed their initiative.

“Further, the church leaders will be engaging in two teams to work for peace. While one team will travel to Kangpokpi District, another team will visit Senapati District. The church leaders strongly feel that hostages on both sides need to be released on humanitarian ground urgently. The team that will travel to Kangpokpi will meet the family members of three deceased church leaders to express condolences. The state government has assured that ex-gratia will be provided to the three families. The team will then speak to the Kuki Church leaders of Kangpokpi in a bid to bring peace,” the CMO stated.

“The team, which plans to visit Senapati District will meet the Naga Church leaders and members of the Naga Civil Society Organisations to discuss the prevailing tense situation and hostage crisis,” it added.

Those killed in the May 13 ambush were Rev Dr Vumthang Sitlhou, president of TBAI; Rev Kaigoulun Lhouvum, finance secretary of TBAI; and pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou, Superintendent Pastor. Rev SM Haopu, executive secretary of TBAI; Rev Kaikhothang Singsit, pastor, TBAI Centre Church Kangpokpi; and drivers Thangtinlen Sitlhou and Lungoumang Lhouvum sustained injuries, while Rev Hekai Simte, superintendent pastor, was unharmed.

They were returning from a United Baptist Churches Council meeting in Churachandpur to Kangpokpi in two official vehicles when they were ambushed near Saheibung Peak (Zero Point), between Kotlen and Kotzim villages in Kangpokpi district.